Crate.



PATENTBD MAR. 24, 1908. E. N. DAVIS.

. CRATE. APPLICATION FILED KAILB. 1907.

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Aftorkey' PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. E. N. DAVIS.

-ORATB. APPLlOATION FILED [AB-8,1907.

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Allomey:

EDWIN N. DAVIS, OF LODI, WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed. March 8, 1907. Serial No. 361,301.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, EnwiN N. DAvls, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'Lodi, in the county of Columbia and State of W'is co'nsin, have invented certain new ,and use ful Improvements in Grates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use, the

same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in crates and more particularly to that class adapted to be used for crating e gs or like perishable commodities and my 0 ject is to provide a crate ii-at may be readily knocked down and folded compactly together for reshipping.

A further object is to provide means for quickly and positively securing the parts of the crate together.

A still further object is to provide reinforcements for the side walls of the crate.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

111 the accompanying drawingswhich are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my crate complete, showing the same in its assembled position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View thereof as seen on line 3-3 Fig.

4; Fig. 4 is a sectional view as seen on line 4 4 l 'ig. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the crate folded and ready for reshipment, and, F ig. 6 is a perspective view of a lining adapted to beplaced in the upper and lower portion of the crate.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the floor or base of my improved crate to the longitudinal edges of which are secured rails 2 while blocks 3 are disposed across the ends of the section and between the rails, said blocks extending slightly above the rails, said rails and blocks forming a cav-- ity into which are disposed side and enc walls 4 and 5, respectively, said walls extending upwardly from the floor and form ing a suitable receptacle for various articles when assembled together.

The floor 1,'rails 2 and blocks 3 are preferably constructed of wood while the side and end walls are preferably constructed of sheet metal thereby lending rigidity to the parts of the device, at the same time decreasing the weight and cost thereof. The longitudinal edges 6 of the end walls 5 are directed at right angles to the face of the end walls and are provided with L-shaped terminals 7 with which are adapted to interlock similar terminals 8 at'the ends of the side walls 4 so that when said terminals are interlocked with each other the end and side walls will be held rigidly n a vertical position.

In order to'divide the space between the side and end walls into compartments and at the same time reinforce the side walls, I provide a partition wall 9 which is supported betw sen cars 10 at the central portionof the side walls, said ears being preferably formed by striking in portions of the side walls and separating the struck in portions at their cen ter and then forming the separated portions at right angles to the inner faces of the {side walls, said ears being arranged in pairs and. s Jaced a sufficient distance apart to receive the partition wall.

' Disposed over the side and end walls is a cover 11, said cover having rails 12 similar to the rails on the floor section and parallel ,therewith while the ends of the cover are provided with blocks 13 which are secured between the rails 12 and are less in depth than said rails.

Secured to theend walls 5 at a point adjacent the upper ends thereof, are strips 14, upon which the blocks 13 are adapted to rest when the crate in its assembled position and in order to secure the cover in position over the walls, I extend upwardly from the strips 14, eye-bolis 15 with which is adapted to engage the angular end 16 of aspring latch 17, said latch'liaving one of its ends fixed to the block 13 and in order to readily detach the angular end 16 from tho eye-bolt 15, I

provide a tapered socket 18 in the blocks 13 nnniodiately m the rear and extending above the spring latch 17 so that an object may be rcadi y inserted back of the spring latch and outward pressure directed thereon which will result in disengaging the angular end 16 from the eye-bolt.

In assemlaling'thc severalparts of my improved cratc together, the end walls 5 are first disposed in position and in order to positively hold the same into engagement with the blocks 3, I secure to each of said blocks, a pair of upwardly extending lugs 19 wh eh a re adapted to extend through slots 20 l in the end walls after which the side walls 4 are elevated to the u per ends of'the end walls and the termina s 7- and 8 interlocked with each other by moving the side walls 4 downwardly which will result in holdin the side and end walls rigidlytogether an the cover 11 is then disposed over the upper end of the walls until the blocks 13 rest upon the strips 14 when the spring latches 17 will engage the eye-bolts 15 and the cover thus held securely in position over the walls. 1

When the crate has reached its destination and the contents thereof have been removed the end and side walls areseparated and the several sections thereof placed on the floor 1 after which the cover 11 is disposed over the folded parts, the rails 12 resting upon the rails 2 and the blocks 13 resting upon the blocks 3, the blocks 3 being provided with eye-bolts 21 with which the spring latches 17 engage thereby securing the several parts in their folded position. By forming the} f blocks 3 of a greater height than the rails 2 and the blocks 13 of less depth than the rails 12 it will be seen that a portion of the block 3 will extend between the rails 12 and prevent the eye-bolts from becoming broken from a blow delivered to the, bottom section or cover. Y

When the side walls 4 are formed of sheet metal the same are preferably reinforced b providing ribs 22 which extend longitudlnally ofthe side wallsv and are formed by bending out portions of the material forming the side walls. 3

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have shown a preferred form of linin 23 which is adapted to be placed over the un er surface of the cover and the upper surface of the fio or section, when the crate is employed for shipping crackers or like articles, the object being to render the crate moist proof. The lining used to cover the floor section is provided at one end with notches 24 so that the same may be placed into or removed from the cavity formed by the side rails and end blocks while each edge of the lining is provided with a flange 25 which is directed at right angles to the plane of the lining and bent upon itself 'to form hooks 26 and as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawing when the lining is placed within the crate any dirt or' foreign particles entering the crate between the side walls 4 and the rails 2 will be prevented from enter- I in r the interior of the crate.

It will now be seen that I have provided a i very cheap and economical crate and-one that will be perfectly rigid when assembled together and not readily destroyed or injured in shipping and it will further have .provided a crate that can be quickly 1 knocked down or set up and when knocked e seen that I of said floor, said blocks and rails being of different height u wardly extending'hooks on said blocks, enc walls having slotstherein adapted to receive said hooks, L-sha ed terminals on said end walls, side wa s having L-shaped terminals at the ends thereof adapted to telescopically interlock with the terminals on the end walls, said side walls having ribs, a partition wall adapted to engage inwardly directed ears .on the side walls, a cover for said walls said cover having rails at its edges and blocks at the ends thereof between said rails, said rails and blocks being 0 posite in height with respect to those on t e floor thereof, and a sprmg-latch on the upper blocks adapted to engage eye-bolts on the strips and lower blocks whereby said cover may be secured over the walls in their folded or assembled osition.

2. A crate of the c ass described comprising a floor section, rails secured to the edges of said 'floor section, blocks between the ends I of said rails and extending above the same,

said rails and blocks forming a cavity, end

walls adapted to enter said cavity and en-' gage said blocks, hooks on the blocks adapted to engage and hold the end walls from upward movement, L-shaped terminals on the end walls, side walls adapted to enter said cavity and engage said rails, L-shaped terminalson said side-walls adapted to telescopically receive the terminals on the end wall, ears arranged in pairs and formed by directing inward y portions of the side walls,

a partition wall adapted to en age said was and longitudinal ribs on said si e walls.

3. The herein described crate com rising a floor, end and side walls for sai floor, means to hold said walls into engagement with the floor, a cover for said walls, a lining for said cover and floor, said linin havin right angled extensions thereon an hooke terminals at the free edges of said extensions whereby when said linin s are placed in position foreign particles will be excluded from the interior of the crate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence. of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN N. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. ROBERTSON, BERT BUCHANAN. 

